Chapter 244 - Irene is in Trouble (3)
The story starts in Chapter 244 of "Noble Pampering: Demon CEO's Relentless Entanglement": When Sophie Smith saw Asher Land, he was leaning against the white corridor outside the... Donāt miss it!
When Sophie Smith saw Asher Land, he was leaning against the white corridor outside the hospital room, lighting a cigarette.
He looked somewhat exhausted.
"Irene, is she okay?" Sophie softly stepped forward and stood in front of him.
"Sheās out of danger, but sheās still unconscious for now." Asher Land exhaled a puff of smoke. Sophie frowned slightly in displeasure, reached out to take the cigarette from his hand, extinguished it, and threw it in the trash can.
Asherās gaze shifted slightly, but he said nothing, permitting her to defy him in front of him in any way she pleased.
Sophie found herself at a loss for words with Asher, sensing his mood was quite low.
"Youāve been looking after Irene all night; you must be tired too. Why donāt you go back and rest well? Iām here, so itās okay." Sophie suggested.
"No need." Taking care of someone in the hospital is indeed exhausting, and he didnāt want to let her get worn out.
The two sat side by side on a long bench in the corridor, with Sophie wisely maintaining silence.
"I really didnāt expect anything like this happening to Irene; otherwise, I would have definitely sent her to the airport." Asherās voice was slightly hoarse.
"Irene must be very important to you, isnāt she?" Sophie turned her head to gaze intently at his handsome profile. "Only sometimes I donāt understand why, even though Irene is so important to you, you..."
That last sentence went unsaid; she actually wanted to ask why, if Irene was that important to him, did he insist on keeping her by his side?
Asher waited a long time but never heard her finish her thought, so he began to express himself freely.
"I just see Irene as my sister, not as my woman. You and her are different concepts, you know?" Asher seemed to have read her mind, "So, donāt misunderstand me."
Sophie felt momentarily lost, but she quickly collected herself.
"Oh." She merely responded lightly.
"Arenāt you even a bit curious about the past between Irene and me?"
For some reason, he felt a slight sense of defeat, as ever since Irene had moved into the Land Family, Sophie hadnāt asked anything about it. He was, after all, her man now, and deep down, he hoped she might show a tinge of jealousy, perhaps to prove that she actually had him in her heart too.
"If you donāt want to talk about it, then why should I ask?"
She knew well what she was to him; she didnāt want to cross boundaries and interfere in his personal life.
He chuckled lightly, a hint of helplessness at the corner of his mouth.
"Before I returned to Eastern City, I was always working under my father. My father was notorious for his ruthlessness and cruelty. I remember when I was fifteen, I accidentally angered my father, and he ordered someone to bring a whip, saying he was going to teach me a harsh lesson..."
Asher Landās thoughts seemed to drift back to a long time ago, unwilling to touch that memory, and it was apparent his expression was somewhat restrained.
Sophie didnāt interrupt him, just sat quietly beside him, listening attentively.
"At that time, naturally, I didnāt dare to resist, and ended up taking many lashes from him, my body was all bloody and mangled, but the old man still wouldnāt let me go."
Sophie never thought Asher Land would have such a side; this greatly surprised her.
"By chance, that day, Ireneās father brought her to the Land Family to play, and she stumbled upon this scene. Do you know what happened after?" Asherās beautiful eyes looked directly at her, and Sophie shook her head.
"No matter what, she threw herself over me, taking two solid lashes for me. She must have been only eight years old then..."